to think older teens should be made to watch what an abortion is in PHSE. (sorry possibly triggering)

[StraightLineOfResignation]

I know this may be controversial but I have thought this for some time.
Abortion is legal in this country but still straight forward , informative talks about it are clouded by morality and judgement and at the end of the day, sometimes people need to have one in tragic circumstances i.e people who are made critically ill by pregnancy.
And are often as well as already scared and sad, i don't think most people make this decision lightly, are woefully underprepared which i'm sure must only add to emotional trauma.
and of course there are too many potential uninterested fathers who just utter 'get rid of it' at the hearing of potentially being a father, so disgustingly flippantly like throwing a crisp packet in the bin, I do think if they especially had seen a medical video of the procedure, well i think the number of people who just thrown that term around would be significantly less, if they had actually seen that image with their own eyes , and would be less detached from the idea and process.
I'm talking older teens , like 16+ here , not 11 year olds.
my mum and i have always though this, i would find it traumatising and pretty shocking, but compared to people who feel shame, go backstreet putting themselves at risk and people who go through with pregnancies they did not want/need. Surely a bit of discomfort is better then that being a legacy of another generation.

[mrsjay]

I dont get what you are saying straight doesn't make sense teenagers are what much worse ?

[WorraLiberty]

Here's a novel thought...

You know that thing called the internet?

Well teens can use that to find out what both forms are about.

Still no need to sit in school watching a video

[SilverApples]

'You do know most teens what much worse these days?'

They know the difference between fact and fiction though, like a younger child reading the story of Hansel and Gretel being different to them reading about cannibalistic atrocities in the DRC.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

They have read the thread, OP, they just don't agree with you!

[Binkyridesagain]

Why? Apart from the 'just get rid' comment, I can't see a reason why you would want education to be done this way.

Who would it benefit? the pregnant teen, the teen that's trying to decided whether to sleep with their partner, the older woman. Who? The only people I can see who would benfit from this are Anti abortionists.

[Bootycall]

ridiculous idea op.

I am proud to live in a country that values women's reproductive choices and offers her safe options.

better show girls the episode of 'call the midwife' where the woman has a backstreet abortion to show our girls how bloody better things are for women in this country now.

[SilverApples]

The poster meant 'Teenagers watch much worse' , mrsjay.
The usual blether about the Yoof of Today.

[wigglesrock]

I don't think I've ever seen such a poorly thought out idea to be very honest. As other posters have said most abortions are pre 10 weeks, so I'm not really sure what you'd be wanting to be shown . I live in NI, so your sweeping statements about abortion being legal don't really resonate with me. Any over 16 year old that I've known has a pretty clear idea what abortion entails, pity they're not given the same legal right to have one - why don't you focus your ire on that?

[mrsjay]

but i still dont know what you want to achieve by letting these young women see what happens as far as i know older teens are given information in schools about abortion are you meaning how easy the operation is ? is that what you are talking about,

[secretsofsanta]

No sorry I dont. I had a termination at 9 weeks, just on the line for a medical, taking pills. Nothing to see, unless you mean what comes out?

[lilyaldrin]

Some abortion stats for you:
77% of abortions are carried out before 10 weeks, and 91% before 13 weeks
Half of all abortions are medical
1% of abortions are carried out due to the foetus being disabled
Less than 0.1% are carried out after 24 weeks

The percentage of abortions being carried out before 10 weeks is rising by the way - maybe this is where education should be focussed, on getting abortions performed as early as possible.

[mrsjay]

The poster meant 'Teenagers watch much worse' , mrsjay.
The usual blether about the Yoof of Today.

OH i see aye the yoof of today are all in their rooms watching porn and shooting zombies eh

[punny]

I haven't read the thread but at my dd's school they have to watch a video of an abortion in RS. She did last week and she's in yr10 so 15

[secretsofsanta]

Which btw was unpleasant for me to see never mund a teen.

[mrsjay]

is it still illegal in NI wiggle

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

I have read the thread! Don't disappear just because we don't agree with you! What a cop out.

I want to know what you think it will actually achieve?

[Bootycall]

and many many women have various feelings post abortion, mainly relief!

[lilyaldrin]

Oh, and most women having an abortion have previously had at least one baby, and a third have previously had an abortion.

Most women seeking an abortion know exactly what abortion, pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood entails.

[Binkyridesagain]

"Between 2011 and 2012, the under-18 abortion rate fell again from 15 to 12.8 per 1,000."

!.28% is not a very high figure.

[Ericaequites]

I'd rather all thirteen year olds watch the Lamaze movie. Sex has consequences, including babies.

[MeepMeepVrooooom]

OP this isn't the taboo subject you think it is. It forms part of sex education now.

What exactly do you think showing footage would achieve?

[WilsonFrickett]

I think the fact you've labelled your post 'possibly triggering' speaks volumes about your underlying opinions of women who have had abortions op. While many women regret they were in the circumstances which led them to have a termination, very many women do not regret the termination itself.

My bf wished very much that her lt bf had not shown his true colours and turned into a complete prick when she found she was pg. She absolutely does not regret then choosing a termination over bringing a child up on her own. And why should she? This trigger/regret it for the rest of your life/cry every birthday thing that women are supposed to feel does not do it for me.

[perfectstorm]

My RS teacher took us along to a convent to watch The Silent Scream when I was 16.

I had an abortion at 8 weeks when I was 19, and felt sod all but relief - which increased with every year that passed, given the father was and remains a horrible human being, whereas I'm married to someone lovely and very happy. Almost 20 years on I had to take abortion medication... because I had an ectopic pregnancy, and would have died if I hadn't. I hate to imagine the life the first pregnancy would have had, with a very screwed up teenage mother and a sociopathic father. My DS has a stable, happy, settled existence and the kind of childhood I think all kids are owed. And the second pregnancy was going to end abruptly and early whatever happened; the only variable was whether it took me with it.

In neither case did anti-abortion propaganda affect my choice, so I don't think your suggestion is well founded.

[HavantGuard]

You are absolutely right. There's absolutely no way to convey what happens in an abortion without forcing teenagers to watch a graphic video of a medical procedure. It's not like we've come up with some system whereby we produce sounds through our throats that we can use to convey information or a system of shapes to represent those sounds, that can be scrawled onto paper.

[TapirsCaperWithReindeers]

I used to be in a religious group which showed films like this in sunday school to the young girls/teen classes.

Very shaming, very victim blaming, caused a friend of mine to have a mental collapse - the leader of this group knew she had had an abortion (familial abuse) but refused to let her leave the room.

How on earth would you decide who needed to see it, and who didn't. Or indeed, who shouldn't?

People can be educated as to their options without resorting to such a silly idea.